The closure of a Nestle factory has been confirmed to staff but consultations continue on the terms.
The GMB and Unite said the company had confirmed on Wednesday the site in Fawdon, near Newcastle, would close by the end of 2023, with the loss of more than 470 jobs, with some production moved overseas.
Ross Murdoch, GMB national officer, said: “Closing this profit-making site and shifting production to Europe is completely unacceptable. This will have a devastating impact on workers and their families.
“Meanwhile transporting finished products from sites in Europe back to the UK – where they are consumed – will result in significant additional road and sea miles, increasing pollution and environmental damage.
“GMB and Unite will now speak to members in Fawdon and find out what they want to do next. We will give them whatever support and resources they need to fight this.”
Joe Clarke, national officer of Unite, said: “Unite and its membership are bitterly disappointed that alternative proposals to keep the site within Nestle Fawdon open have been rejected.
“We are currently seeking further information in relation to the proposal, and we will enter into dialogue on next steps imminently.”
Nestle said the largest slice of production will stay in the UK and move to Halifax, West Yorkshire.
A spokesman said: “The consultation around the changes we proposed in April 2021 is still ongoing.
“We said from the outset that we wanted to provide adequate time and space for these discussions and it is only right that they are held directly with our employees and trade unions and not in public.
“It remains a priority to support our people and their families through this process and we thank everybody for their patience. We will provide an update once the consultation is complete.”
